Georgia projects well for 2013, even with flaws in win
Mark Richt gets the Gatorade bath after Georgia's Capitol Bowl win over Nebraska. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ORLANDO – The players wore hats reading “CHAMPIONS” in all cap letters. The fact that “Capital One Bowl” — and not SEC or BCS — also was stitched on the caps in a much smaller script might deflate that declaration a bit, but it doesn’t take away from where Georgia may be headed.
Were the Bulldogs great in their final game of the 2012 season? Hardly. The defense, purported to be loaded with NFL talent, too often played sloppy and undisciplined. The quarterback, Aaron Murray, threw two interceptions in the team’s first three possessions. It is what happens sometimes in bowl games. The Dogs didn’t save their best for last. Their best came in the next-to-last game against Alabama.
But ultimately, what came out of Georgia’s 45-31 win over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl were signs that this program isn’t likely to take a step back next season.
There will be new players. There will be a different team personality. The schedule will be tougher. But the Bulldogs just finished a season that saw them go 12-2 and come within five yards of winning the SEC championship and going to the BCS title game. They rebounded from the crushing loss in the SEC championship game to win a significant bowl game. They showed resiliency by losing two starting wide receivers (Marlon Brown, Michael Bennett) during the season and a third in Tuesday’s game (Malcolm Mitchell). They endured several early season suspensions on defense and played without two defensive starters against Nebraska (John Jenkins, Abry Jones).
Jarvis Jones and several defensive starters now are expected to leave for the NFL. Maybe Murray comes back, but probably not. But Georgia is in a good place now, a player again on the national scene, and nobody could have seen that coming two years ago in Memphis when the team schlepped off the field a loser to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl, dragging a 6-7 record.
“The seniors started a legacy here,” freshman running back Todd Gurley said Tuesday. “They’re passing it down to us, and we’re just going to keep moving forward and winning each year. I know a lot of teams will have the goal of going to the national championship next year, but we really believe that. We’re going to bring in a great recruiting class and we’re going to get it done next year.”
Todd Gurley, here breaking through for a 24-yard touchdown, finished with 125 yards rushing to lead the Bulldogs. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
As flawed as the Dogs looked against Nebraska, the result and the season projected well for the future.
It starts with the two freshmen in the backfield, Gurley and Keith Marshall. There were questions about the running game going into the season following the excommunication of Isaiah Crowell, but the two quickly eased concerns. In the final game of the season, Gurley rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown and Marshall made a difficult back-shoulder, 24-yard touchdown catch to give the Dogs a 38-31 lead early in the fourth quarter.
There’s the future.
It doesn’t matter if the starting quarterback is Murray or Hutson Mason. Georgia’s offense should function well, and the team should be in the middle of things again.
When asked about Marshall’s catch, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said, “We’ve kept things pretty simple for him and Todd because they’re freshmen. But that play there gives us a level of confidence next year that we can expand their package.”
Gurley, Bobo said, brought “a physicality to the offense that we needed. He did a great job leading us as a freshman. I told him after the game, ‘You had a great year, but now you have a chance to be great. So let’s go to work.’”
Marshall said he battled knee tendinitis before the season, affecting his workouts. “I lost some of my explosiveness,” he said. “But it’s finally feeling better. I’m looking forward to getting started on my workouts.”
And then this: “Honestly, I feel we’re the best team in the country. We can play with anybody. We were one play away this year.”
There were hiccups Tuesday. The first half took nearly two hours. The two teams combined for 47 points, five offensive touchdowns, three interceptions (including Nebraska’s pick-six against Murray), a field goal and a blocked punt for a safety. The Dogs trailed 24-23, then 31-23. But Murray, after starting 11 for 24, stopped scaring NFL scouts. He connected with Chris Conley for a 49-yard touchdown, then later scrambled away from pressure to connect with Marshall. Later, he found Conley again on a “jailbreak screen” against Nebraska’s blitz — nice call by Bobo – for an 87-yard score. Checkmate.
It ended well. There’s reason to believe it could end well next season, too.
By Jeff Schultz
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772 comments Add your comment
Moist Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
10:51 am
You people need to stop cackling like hens about Murray leaving. My inside sources tell me he’s definitley coming back.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
10:51 am
Bob, shouldn’t you be applying for some of these NFL jobs with all this wisdom. I know your mom would be glad to get her basement back and throw away all those smelly rat hats down there if you got a paying gig.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
10:52 am
The only inside source you have is the moistness in the crack of your butt, just say’n
DawginLex
January 2nd, 2013
10:53 am
GTBob
Stil waiting on you to explain how Stanford and Northwestern and Vanderbilt all have excellent football programs yet you continue to accept the crapfest at Tech and use the academics excuse.
And don’t waste my time and tell me Stanford is not all that good. They put their QB in the NFL and they will put multiple players in the NFL in the future. They beat 4 ranked teams including Oregon.
Something Tech can only dream of. Not everyone buys your excuses and I sure don’t.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
10:54 am
Lex, those campuses aren’t in a hell hole war zone, just thinking about it.
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
10:59 am
Something Tech can only dream of. Not everyone buys your excuses and I sure don’t.
Of Stanford, Northwestern, Vandy, and GT, who has the best record in the last 10 years? I guess in your world a team only needs to have one good year to be considered a great program.
Truth
January 2nd, 2013
11:00 am
Idiots! Murray is no better than Joe Cox. He makes horrible decisions at the worst times. We all the team does not support him, heard on Twitter over and over. Notice when Murray comes to the sidelines not 1 teammate is there to support him. Stop comparing him to Drew Brees, as Tony Dungy said on DP, he is under 6 ft tall.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
11:03 am
Steve…………….you idiot this is NOT a UGa Blog……This is Schultz Blog and many people read his articles not just Mutts. Are you smart enough to understand that?
JB
January 2nd, 2013
11:04 am
Truth….not buying that. I see the entire offense congrats him on the field after a TD throw. And he is WAY better than Cox.Yes, he has his bad moments, and has cost Dawgs some games, But Murray WON that game yesterday for the Dawgs
Clowney is King
January 2nd, 2013
11:04 am
Yea, Dawgs. Dream the impossible Dream- beat SC! Not gonna happen. Maybe the Dawgs can stay on the field with SC, but win, NO WAY! Even with Dawgs having a “good” year, SC is better. Way better!
nobody
January 2nd, 2013
11:05 am
2013…….cannot imagine our defense being anything but better…enough… though we will never understand why, this year’s defense never looked in shape, never seemed to understand the schemes or where they were supposed to be, and never played with self-discipline….late hit after late hit…. and to begin next season with S.C., Clemson, & LSU….can’t imagine Murray leaving behind the biggest challenge of his career, i.e., of allowing UGA to potentially be “owe for South Carolina” or “owe and three” after the above buzz -saw…. but then again, he just might…maybe Mason needs the challenge….time will tell….
DawginLex
January 2nd, 2013
11:10 am
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
10:59 am
Something Tech can only dream of. Not everyone buys your excuses and I sure don’t.
Of Stanford, Northwestern, Vandy, and GT, who has the best record in the last 10 years? I guess in your world a team only needs to have one good year to be considered a great program.
*****************
What difference does that make? Just more excuses.
Vandy, Stanford and Northwestern all have better football programs than Tech
All 3 are well thought of academically and highly ranked and turn out grads who make lots of money.
James Franklin has only been at Vandy 2 years so going back 10 is a waste of time.
Answer the question and quit making excuses
DawginLex
January 2nd, 2013
11:11 am
clowney
when is the 11 wins parade?
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
11:16 am
Talking Stanford & Vandy football players and education please have a look at some of the degrees the players are majoring in.
http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/stan-m-footbl-mtt.html
http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tyler_anders_807665.html
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
11:17 am
Talking Stanford & Vandy football players and education please have a look at some of the degrees the players are majoring in.
http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/stan-m-footbl-mtt.html
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
11:18 am
http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tyler_anders_807665.html
DawginLex
January 2nd, 2013
11:19 am
5150
so what? If Stanford and Vandy can do it, why can’t Tech? And don’t tell me every single Tech football player is MIT quality.
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:20 am
“Hey Gurley…..”We’re going to bring in a great recruiting class and we’re going to get it done next year.” I think that has been said for the last 32 years but some how we are supposed to think it will happen in 2013?”
_______________________________________
Last 32 years, you’ve put up exactly 8 wins against us.
Starting 1957, Georgia Tech is # 40 in the nation in wins with only 355 wins.
You’ve won 1 conference championship starting 1957 and won no Major Bowls starting 1957, and are 8 wins the last 32 years against us, and you’re in here saying that Georgia is not getting the damn job done ?
Forget you. You are a neophyte in this conversation. Put your team in your handle 5150 TOAD.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
11:22 am
Reggie Ball got in and stayed eligible at Tech for 4 years……Anything is possible dog. Johnson couldn’t warm up a corpse.He’s pitiful as a recruiter. That straight forward BS is just that…..BS
DawgNole
January 2nd, 2013
11:22 am
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
10:33 am
Let’s wait and see how # 4 Florida does in the Sugar Bowl against Louisville, before we can decide if Florida had a GREAT SEASON 2012, or not ?
Huh ?
Top 5 Defense in the NCAA with wins over beating # 9 Texas A and M, # 10 South Carolina, # 11 LSU, and # 12 Florida State (FSU.)
Wait and see how they do against # 22 Louisville, when Louisville lost to 7-Loss UCON just 2 games ago ?
Is there no fan of opposing teams in the College Football Town, who can bring anything better than that as to why our 2012 season 12-Win Season is not great ?
Tell me you have not pinned your hopes on Louisville beating Florida because Louisville won the DEFUNCT Big East ?
____________________
You addressing me, TB? Just in case you are, I’ve never said anything about the 2012 gators being “GREAT,” although if they finish 12-1, I’d say they’re fairly close–given their top-ranked strength-of-schedule.
As far as UGA’s 12-2 season being “not great,” I haven’t said that either–although I wouldn’t define “great” as having two losses. Everyone no doubt has their own definition of what constitutes a “great” season. For me, in college football, it includes having zero losses.
And I sure as hell haven’t said I hope L’ville beats fla. I’m a strength-of-schedule and SEC/ACC guy, and generally pull for the opponents of my favorite teams when they’re not playing us–simply because their victories make us look better. And believe me, having been raised in Tallahassee and graduated at UGA, it’s NEVER easy conceding ANYTHING to the despised gators. So when I “pull” for them, it’s grudgingly at best.
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:23 am
5150 UOAD,
Georgia Tech’s other Sports all graduate at 73 %, so why is your football team not only on NCAA Probation but also # 40 in wins starting 1957 and cannot graduate your football players ?
I missed that ?
You going to answer that this time, or run off and hide again ?
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:26 am
DawgNole,
I have no idea where to start with you 2013. How about, does it look like I addressed that you since you didn’t say anything about any of that I am addressing my replies to this blog – who DID SAY THAT ?
I will leave it at that.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
11:26 am
Thomas….Tech is graduating 100% of its football players and they were not Special Admits like the Rocket Scientists at UGa.
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:27 am
Go read the posts that asked those questions and made those points.
You obviously did not.
So, why are you asking if I am addressing a post you when we both know you’re not the 1 making those statements ?
Elephant in the room
January 2nd, 2013
11:28 am
UGA had a golden chance to make it to the BCS NC game in 2012 and 2011. Due to schedule and down SEC East. Didn’t happen. To win an NC, a team has to beat the bad teams. UGA does that no problem. UGA has a problem beating good teams. CMR has fallen on his face in that department since 2007 or so. Has anypone noticed that the last 5 Natl Champs beat no less than 5 top ranked teams during their NC season? UGA hasn’t beat 5 top ranked teams the last 3 seasons COMBINED. That’s a the little subject UGA fans hates to talk about, including CMR. He acted offended when asked asked about it at the SEC press conf.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
11:28 am
Can’t wait to tell all the employee’s in the Friday meeting ( most voted for the O ( zero) that their taxes are going up this week through payroll….. And their share of health care co pay is going up ( after Bozo said it would go down 2,500). I won’t tell them that an anti fossil fuel policy by this guy has their gas cost up 150 a month…or 1,800 a year……..Yep, He’s their man.
Stanford is far superior to GT
January 2nd, 2013
11:28 am
GT uses the excuse that GT is too hard for most jocks. If true, then why is GT trying to be something that they cannot expect realistically to ever be???
Of course. STANFORD belies that pathetic excuse. Historically, in ALL SPORTS AND Football, they are far superior to GT over the years and years that I have followed NCAA sports.
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:30 am
What kind of fuzzy math is that, that this is instead 100 % graduation ?
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:31 am
“GT uses the excuse that GT is too hard for most jocks.”
_____________________________________________
Georgia Tech graduates 73 % of their jocks in their other sports and only 43 % of their football players.
Try to get this part explained.
DawgNole
January 2nd, 2013
11:32 am
Moist Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
10:34 am
My inside sources say Murray is coming back next year, so we need to start putting him in high pressure situations in the offseason.
Moist Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
10:51 am
You people need to stop cackling like hens about Murray leaving. My inside sources tell me he’s definitley coming back.
______________________
Your “inside sources”? Yeah, right. Gag me with a spoon. What an arrogant twerp.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
11:33 am
elephant……Mcgarity knows what you posted all to well. He’s kind of in a tough spot. You don’t replace a coach who’s won the SEC East the last two years and won 23 of 28 games…….What do you tell the guy you are interviewing?
1776
January 2nd, 2013
11:33 am
Murray won’t be drafted high enough to make it worth his leaving early. On offense, the Dawgs should be solid next year. Tis the defense that’ll have alotta questions. As of now, I predict a 9-3 season next year with a Peach/CFA Bowl bid.
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:33 am
“UGA has a problem beating good teams under Mark Richt.”
_________________________________________________
20* Won who made AP Poll Top 25:
_________________________
# 4 Tennessee 2001
# 24 Georgia Tech 2001
# 11 Alabama 2002
# 14 Auburn 2002
# 21 FSU 2002
# 15 Tennessee 2003
# 18 Purdue 2003
# 22 Clemson 2003
# 17 Wisconsin 2004
# 16 LSU 2004
# 6 LSU in 2005 SEC Championship
# 19 Virginia Tech in 2006
# 9 Auburn 2006
# 13 Florida 2007
# 15 Auburn in 2007
# 19 Hawai’i in 2007
# 13 Georgia Tech in 2009
# 4 Florida 2012
# 27 Vanderbilt 2012 in top 25 with Franklin’s Bowl Win
# 23 Nebraska probably drops out of Top 25 after 2 TD win*
Someone is lying. Who is it ?
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:36 am
9-3 in 2013 ?
It’s a 14-game season. I guaranteed a 12-2 season pre-season for 2012 with losses to only Alabama and South Carolina.
# 6 Georgia 2013 Polls
# 7 Florida 2013 Polls
# 8 LSU is what I predict now LSU 2013 Polls
# 10 South Carolina 2013 Polls
# 13 Clemson 2013 Polls
# 25 Vanderbilt 2013 Polls
We lose how many of those games, if Aaron Murray returns to set all NCAA records except wins ?
JB
January 2nd, 2013
11:39 am
Getting rid of Richt is like getting rid of your wife after 30 years. In a year, you’ll find out the new wife has gained weight, snores, spends too much of your money and doesn’t care to ” take care of your needs as much as last year”…… The old Mrs’es wasn’t that bad after all.
DawgNole
January 2nd, 2013
11:41 am
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:26 am
DawgNole,
I have no idea where to start with you 2013. How about, does it look like I addressed that you since you didn’t say anything about any of that I am addressing my replies to this blog – who DID SAY THAT ?
I will leave it at that.
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:27 am
Go read the posts that asked those questions and made those points.
You obviously did not.
So, why are you asking if I am addressing a post you when we both know you’re not the 1 making those statements ?
___________________
If you weren’t addressing me, all the better. I’d just posted something about the strength of the gators, so I wasn’t sure; was simply asking–and clarifying my stance on those issues just in case. Remember, less venom in 2013–I believe WE can do it!
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:47 am
____________________________________________________
“Even with Dawgs having a “good” year, SC is better. Way better!”
____________________________________________________
That’s why South Carolina played in the Outback Bowl against 5-Loss Michigan and is ranked outside the AP Poll Top 10 at # 11 hoping that LSU drops worse than that to make you # 10.
UGA is 12-2 and you won 11 games and that is the best you’ve ever done in your stinking history.
# 6 UGA
SEC East Champions
12-2
Top 10 All-Time Football Program with 12 SEC Championships 3rd all-time
The only Conference Championship South Carolina has is 1969 ACC, which is 44 seasons’ ago.
If you had a better season than we had 2012, you’d be ranked ahead of us,
RIGHT ?
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
11:50 am
so what? If Stanford and Vandy can do it, why can’t Tech?
What exactly has Vandy done that GT hasn’t? They have beaten one team with a winning record since Franklin has been coach. That team was a 7-6 NC State team from a couple of days ago. This was supposedly a horrible year for Tech and they beat more teams with winning records then Vandy has in the last 3 years combined. As for Stanford it was a combination of things, mostly Harbaugh and Luck that gave the program a temporary bump. If you think academics do not affect them at all then how do you explain this article from 2007?
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/HIGHER-STANDARDS-Stanford-teams-finding-it-s-2589894.php#ixzz2GmSVg8PK
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
11:54 am
I don’t want to get rid of Mark Richt.
Here’s why :
Mark Richt era Recruiting Rankings :
Year FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2013…16….9…….6……8……3……5
2012…11….2…….5……6…..14…..20
2011…1……7……26…..9.…..5……4
2010…9……4…….1……7…..21……5
2009..18…..2…….21…..3……4……9
2008…8…..1…….12……7……5…..9
2007…33….22……1…..5……17…..2
2006…12….18…….2…..7…..4……1
2005…3….16…….11….19…..4…..6
2004…4….19…….8……2……6…..1
2003..12….45…….4……2…..11…..1
2002…6….37…….20…..15…..9…..12
2001…5….25…….16…..15…..5……7
AVG..11….16…….10……8…..8……6
Mark Richt era NFL Draft Selections :
Draft : FSU—AL—-FL—LSU—GA—USC
2012.…4……8……2.…..5.…….7…..3
2011.…3……5……4.…..6.…….6…..9
2010.…3.…..7..…..9.…..6.…….5…..7
2009.…1……4..…..3.…..6.…….6…..11
2008.…3……0..…..2.…..7.…….4…..10
2007.…5……3..…..9.…..5.…….5…..5
2006.…8……5..…..3.…..7.…….7…..11
2005.…9……4..…..3.…..3.…….6…..5
2004.…5……4..…..5.…..0.…….4…..4
2003.…6……5..…..8.…..4.…….7…..5
2002.…3……4..…..8.…..5.…….8…..2
2001.…9……3..…..4.…..3.…….6…..3
Total…59….52..…60…..57……71….75
………FSU—AL—–FL—LSU—-GA–USC
Draft…59….52…….60…..57…..71….75
Rank…11….16…….10……8…….8…..6
I like watching all this talent every year in my hobby for my alma mater and I love the 20 wins in the Mark Richt era over teams who made the AP Poll Top 25, and the 4 wins over teams making the AP Poll Top 10.
I asked they do that 2012.
They did.
Yes, by all means give Mark Richt a new contract before Mike Adam$ leaves now.
He’s not perfect, but he does have TALENT on his teams which is by the way, why I spend $ 10,000 year on them.
Jason
January 2nd, 2013
11:56 am
You guys wanna know why the Techie’s hate our team so much? Not because we slaughter them every year, but because we get all the attention. Notice not one article on their fluke win over USC? USC obviously didn’t want to be there and had Max Wittek at QB for crying out loud. I bet they were glad it wasn’t UGA on the other side. LMAO
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
11:57 am
I don’t want to get rid of Mark Richt.
Here’s why :
Do you really think any coach would have any trouble at all recruiting at UGA? All Richt has to do is open the door and say welcome.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
12:01 pm
Thomas Brown since you are so concerned and can’t do math try this article on Paul Johnson’s Players and their graduation rate.
http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/2012/12/25/tech-2008-signing-class-delivers-in-classroom/
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
12:02 pm
Notice not one article on their fluke win over USC?
There were a few articles about the win. I do agree though that the AJC hates GT with a passion and the win over USC probably ruined Jeff and Mark’s new year.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
12:03 pm
Murray is great and will stay. Wow he was the MVP? Must not have been any good football players in the Capital One Bowl. Same STYLE as always……Ok not great and still throwing PICK-6’s…………Who ever said Heisman is a fool. Murray has NO SHOT at the Heisman ever.
Jason
January 2nd, 2013
12:04 pm
GTBoob, WHERE did you find an article on the AJC blogs about GT’s win over USC? HAHAHAHA on the GT site? Of course..but neither Mark Bradley nor Jeff Schultz wrote one on GT. They SUCK. That’s why. Who cares about GT football? That’s why you guys come on our blog, you have no other options. LMAO
Marquis de Mercury
January 2nd, 2013
12:07 pm
enough with the tech bashing…its embarrassing that you idiots play them every year…Bama doesn’t play UAB…LSU doesn’t play Tulane…why??? because there is no reason to…beat them, and the public says “who cares”…lose, and the public crushes you for it….play other BCS schools who can enhance your schedule…god knows you need to…
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
12:07 pm
______________________________________
“What exactly has Vandy done that GT hasn’t?”
______________________________________
They graduate their football players at a higher rate than 45 %, as they
and, as Georgia Tech does in the other sports.
NOW, what is your excuse again ?
Vandy is a Top 25 team in the AP Poll at 9-4 and Georgia Tech with a 7-Loss Season is not.
But the real issue is that Georgia Tech graduates your student-athletes in the
OTHER SPORTS @ Ga Tech 73 %
So, why 45 % Football graduation ?
And, why lie that it is 100 % ?
That what you really think it is ?
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
12:08 pm
Of course..but neither Mark Bradley nor Jeff Schultz wrote one on GT. They SUCK.
That’s a harsh opinion of Jeff and Mark. They are decent writers. They don’t like GT but they put out decent material from time to time.
Buckeye
January 2nd, 2013
12:09 pm
dognole,
I excluded Nebraska because they gave up 70 points, repeat, 70 points to WISC.
Otherwise, ok, you went 2-2 in your four biggest games of the year. Average.
Moist Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
12:09 pm
My inside sources are reliable. All I am saying is that now that we know Murray is coming back we need to start getting him ready for the high pressure games NOW.
Navy seals training or an internship with Donald Trump would teach him about handling pressure so that when the season comes we can count on him showing up.